[b]”Ryan has a [i]what?”[/i][/b] Brendon’s voice rose into a higher pitch, as if he was straining his voice to prevent some emotion showing through. He was never very good at lying, or concealing how he really felt- so straight after his astounded exclamation, his feigned attempt at seeming indifferent to this news was pointless. Nevertheless, he paused for a second, stared at Spencer, tried not to look or sound too bothered. Why should he be? It wasn’t like it would affect him. It wasn’t like he cared what- or who- Ryan did. [i]A girlfriend, Bren.[/i] Brendon blinked, and it settled in finally- Spencer wasn’t joking, Ryan had actually gone out and found a girl who liked him (well, that was debatable- Brendon scornfully expected her to only be with him because he was in the band, not that he cared in Ryan’s behalf), and they were... Dating. Ryan was dating a [i]girl.[/i] Brendon couldn’t quite wrap his head around it. [b]”C’mon, Spence, you’re telling me Ryan is [i]straight?”[/i][/b] In Brendon’s defence, Spencer did look kind of doubtful in reflection, and Brendon watched, adamant, as he glanced over at Jon, who just shrugged and giggled a little. [b]”What’s so funny?”[/b] Brendon demanded, setting his jaw, his effort to seem nonchalant having failed within seconds. Jon bit his lip to stop a smirk and shrugged one shoulder, while Spencer turned his face away slightly.

[i]He’s bi, actually,[/i] Spencer offered, and Brendon just scoffed, sitting back resignedly into the couch and raising his eyebrows. [b]”You gotta be kidding me. There isn’t a heterosexual bone in that guy’s body.”[/b] Okay, apparently he’d given up on looking unaffected, because Brendon was clearly irritated about something, staring off past Spencer and Jon who were exchanging confused, but equally amused glances. [b]”He’s kidding himself.”[/b] [i]Well, they’ve been dating for a couple of weeks already, he just didn’t tell us,[/i] Jon piped up, cracking his knuckles absently and looking up at the roof of the bus, squinting. [i]Probably because he knew you’d have something to say about it.[/i] Brendon opened his mouth to argue, then shut it decidedly, furrowing his brow. Jon was smiling again, he could see from the corner of his eye, but Spencer seemed a little concerned, even though his eyebrows were raised. [b]”What?”[/b] Brendon snapped, glaring from Jon to Spencer accusingly. [i]Why do you care so much, Brendon? I thought you wanted ‘nothing to do with him beyond playing on stage’.[/i] Spencer used air quotes and Brendon almost threw his phone at him, but managed to refrain from doing so.

[b]”I [i]don’t[/i] care about him,”[/b] Brendon pointed out, clenching his fists so his hands turned white just thinking about that fucking asshole. [b]”He’s a dickhead, and if he wants to pretend he’s straight or whatever, let him get on with it.”[/b] Clearly bitter and resorting to some questionably low blows, Spencer looked ready to jump in and reprimand him, probably on the cusp of saying some shit about ‘assuming people’s sexuality’, but [i]come on.[/i] Jon and Spencer weren’t stupid. They’d seen the way Ryan looked at and talked about [i]men[/i], the way Ryan looked at Brendon- generally and primarily with annoyance at best and hatred at worst, sure, but nobody in the band was a complete idiot. Brendon just shot Spencer a pointed look, and Spencer fell short before he spoke, clearly beaten. [b]”Anyway, yeah, I’m just concerned about the poor girl he managed to drag along for a ride,”[/b] He continued, though really he didn’t care at all. [b]”What’s her name?”[/b] Spencer was looking on helplessly, as if he wanted to quell Ryan’s apparent eternally burning loathesome feelings towards Ryan, and didn’t really hear Brendon’s question.

Brendon and Ryan had detested eachother from the moment Brendon joined the band. Spencer had brought him in to be the singer when Spencer and Jon decided that a new, more confident vocalist was probably best- and instead of talking with Ryan about it, they just sort of introduced this new guy and expected Ryan to just step down in his place. Obviously Ryan wasn’t too happy about it, didn’t like Brendon’s attitude, and equally Brendon found his arrogance and pretentiousness infuriating. They were constantly at each other’s throats, and though musically they collaborated, composed and performed extremely well, in complete tune, outside of that they could barely stand being in the same room without starting some kind of argument. Poor Spencer and Jon kept the peace to a certain extent, but sometimes they just considered ending the band- but it was their baby, and management wasn’t going to let them kick Ryan or Brendon out, because they were both so vital to the musical process and the face of the band itself. So they were stuck in a limbo, in an environment that would be endlessly toxic if not for Spencer and Jon making it infinitely more peaceful than it would be if Ryan and Brendon were left alone.

Whenever it couldn’t be helped, though, there was a tension between Brendon and Ryan that wasn’t entirely just anger. They were both obviously immediately attracted to eachother and that never went away- just existed alongside the antagonising and the mockery, always subtextual but incredibly obvious, especially to their bandmates. This was why Spencer and Jon were laughing at Brendon when he said he didn’t care- when he was clearly incredibly jealous. [i]Her name is Keltie,[/i] Jon finally cut in, and Brendon clicked his tongue, wondering where he’d heard the name before. Then his expression turned foul and he shook his head. [i]Ew.[/i] Ryan and Keltie had been dating for two weeks, if he knew Ryan they’d probably already... God, Brendon was itching all over, and he was close to the tipping point when the tour bus door opened and in came his majesty himself, Ryan, with his new girlfriend on his arm. Brendon felt himself prickle and stared the guitarist down immediately before nodding at his girlfriend and then looking sharply away, down at his lap, while Ryan turned to greet Spencer and Jon. [i]Keltie, this is Spencer, Jon...[/i] A pause, and a giggle from Keltie, a smirk from Ryan that Brendon could [i]hear[/i] in his voice. [i]...And this is[/i] Brendon. Looking up, Brendon leaned back against the couch, and raised an eyebrow. [b]”So, Ryan, you’re straight now?”[/b]